Bedwetting Alarm: All the Facts

Bedwetting runs in our family. So when my children had an issue with it, I was not surprised. But I was surprised how long it took me to figure out what worked!

What we tried:

We tried taking our kids to the bathroom right before we went to bed. We would pick up a deadweight half-asleep child and make him go to the bathroom. There were several problems with this method.

First, it just seemed cruel.

Second, they did not always go to the bathroom.

Third, I could not do this without my husband when he was traveling because I could not pick them up on my own.

And last, but most importantly, my pediatrician said that it was counterproductive because it was not connecting his brain and his bladder.

So back to the drawing board.

We now decided to no longer allow them to wear pull-ups anymore. Our thought process was that if they felt themselves getting wet, they would wake up. But all we got was wet sheets every night and a room that reeked of urine. I could not stand it much longer.

So back to pull-ups we went.

Do you have any idea how much money I have spent on diapers and pull-ups over the past nine years? Let’s not even get the calculators out. It is not worth the effort.

We decided just to wait and let our kids stop wetting the bed on their own. I mean we thought the time would just come. Right?

But it was starting to embarrass our older two boys. Sometimes their friends saw the pull ups in their closet. My big boys wanted to have friends spend the night with us, but they were too embarrassed by the pull-ups. They desperately wanted to stop wetting the bed.

The Solution:

The bedwetting alarm. If you have a child who wets the bed, I highly recommend a bedwetting alarm.

I did not want to use one at first mainly because I just did not understand the mechanics behind it. So when you do not understand something go to the expert.

Emily is the founder of Bedwetting Alarm 101 and offers advice on how to choose a bedwetting alarm. While I can tell you the bedwetting alarm worked for us, she is the one that can give you the ins and outs. Here is everything you wanted to know about bedwetting alarms

If you have a child who wets the bed, a bedwetting alarm may prove to be the solution. As many as two-thirds of children who use the alarm experience success, and around 50% of children who stop using the alarm remain dry afterwards.

And if you want more parenting tips and tricks, be a part of our community!

Bedwetting alarms explained

The bedwetting alarm is designed to wake children who wet the bed. There are several options available, including a sensor that can be worn in the pajamas or other sleepwear won by the child. These sensors attach to a bell or vibrating alarm that goes off the moment that it becomes wet. The pad and bell work in a similar way, but in this case, the sensor pad is placed under the child.

How does the bedwetting alarm work?

The sensors used in bedwetting alarms tend to be very sensitive, and will sound as soon as your child has an accident. The alarm then wakes the child, who will then be able to get out of bed and go to the toilet. This becomes a habit-forming process that essentially conditions your child to go to the bathroom before the bedwetting commences. Over a period of time, your child becomes so conditioned to the process that they ill usually awake when their bladder becomes full, and before bedwetting begins.

Where can I purchase an alarm?

You may not have to buy one, as they are often available for loan from your local continence advisor, although there may be a waiting period if demand is high. Your doctor can put you in touch with a continence advisor, and they will show you exactly how the alarm works. Alternatively, you can bypass this process and just buy one online. There are many different makes and models available, so read bedwetting alarm reviews before you buy, so that you can be sure that you are getting a good model.

This is the bedwetting alarm we have used that worked great. It is a good price, sturdy, and reliable.

How is the alarm used?

Acquaint yourself with how the alarm works before using it. You should use the alarm every night until your child achieved 14 consecutive dry nights. That could take anywhere from 3-5 months. If your child is easily startled, you may want to sleep in the same room with them until they are used to the alarm going off. Once the child gets used to the alarm, though, it should become his or her responsibility to get up and go to the toilet on their own. Over time, they should also become responsible for setting the alarm after getting up, as well as for changing wet bedding.

Potential bedwetting alarm issues

There is always the chance that your child may turn the alarm off and had right back to sleep. This can be fixed by placing the alarm in an area of the room where they need to get up to turn it off.

Batteries running out.

A seating child may trigger a false alarm.

The child may sleep through the alarm while everyone else in the house does not. This is pretty rare, but if it happens, wake your child so that they can get up to take care of the alarm.

Do bedwetting alarms work?

Children who are old enough (5 and older) to comprehend the alarm, and who are willing participants, will have a good chance of success. The definition of success is achieving a period of 14 consecutive dry nights, which can take 3-5 months to accomplish. Bedwetting alarms are not recommended for children younger than 5.

Now that you have the information, you can make the right decision for your family and your child. The bedwetting alarm was the ticket for us. It was finally the solution to get my two older boys out of pull ups and to stop wetting the bed.

Patience and praise are key throughout this process. Good luck to you!

And if you want more parenting tips and tricks, be a part of our community!

Comments

Wow! What an important and detailed post. That was really brave of you to share your personal experience, and I think it will help lots of families. Thanks for linking this up on #EverythingKids this week 🙂

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